Yet more pleas for paddleboarder safety after 30 rescues on one day

HM Coastguard in the UK is urging paddleboarders to be prepared and stay safe before and during their time on the water, after a day of multiple callouts and lives at risk.

On Thursday (17 August 2023) coastguard rescue teams and RNLI lifeboats dealt with incidents involving paddleboards and inflatables all over Wales and northwest England – including Tywyn, Barmouth, Harlech, Llanfairfechan and Rhyl, round to West Kirby, The Wirral and New Brighton.

Paddleboarder rescues increase

According to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Holyhead, there were around 30 paddleboard and inflatable incidents where people were saved by the coastguard in this area of the UK alone. The majority of these incidents involved children and young people, mostly without safety equipment or a method for calling for help.

“The coastguard dealt with multiple incidents on Thursday that involved paddleboards and inflatables,” says senior maritime operations officer Alex Hill. “We were lucky — so many of these could have ended differently, so many lives were at risk throughout the day. And there is no hotspot for these types of incidents; this is happening all over the country.

“We want everyone to have a good time at the beach, and these incidents are so avoidable if basic safety advice is followed.

“Check the tides and wind forecast, look at the sea state, wear the right kit and safety equipment, and take a phone in a waterproof pouch.

“If you’re ever in trouble on the water, or spot someone else in danger, call 999 and ask for the coastguard.”

Reports of RNLI paddleboarder rescues often cite offshore wind as a factor causing the incident.

“Often with offshore winds, the water looks idyllic and calm; however, this can be deceptive as offshore winds will quickly blow you and your paddleboard far out to sea, which can make it extremely tiring and difficult to paddle back to shore,” says volunteer helm of the ILB, Ash Traves from Bridlington RNLI, regarding a separate incident on 20 August 2023. “If you are on a lifeguarded beach, keep an eye out for the orange windsock to see which way the wind is blowing.”

This safety plea follows a step change in the number of paddleboarders needing to be rescued around the UK. In 2022, RNLI lifeboat crews saw a 21 per cent rise in launches to paddleboarders (144 rising to 175) across the UK and Ireland, in comparison to 2021. A new safety campaign was launched earlier this year to encourage people to think about the weather and tides before setting off.

Main image: The volunteer crew of Bridlington RNLI returning after paddleboard launch, courtesy of Mike Milner.